THE New Year season has seen a spike in demand for courier services with Malaysians using the service to send gifts and cakes to loved ones overseas.

One provider has told the Malaysian Insight it had reported a 100% increase in business, as people unable to travel for the lunar festival use the service to send gifts to loved ones.

Many said sending gifts and cakes to loved ones was one way to send a touch of home to those who cannot return as a result of the movement-control order (MCO).

Yunda Express Malaysian & Singapore Branch deputy director Calvin Khor said many Malaysians working in Singapore mailed gifts and cakes to their family at home.

“We hired 30 temporary employees to manage warehouse parcels during the Chinese New Year. In the past month, we had to process more than 5,000 to 6,000 packages a day. During peak periods, there were as many as 8,000 to 9,000 packages a day,” Khor said.

“Most of them are Chinese New Year gifts and cakes, such as Malaysian delicacies, noodles and sauces,” he added.

The company currently has 50 drop off counters across Malaysia.

Distance makes the heart grow fonder

Lawyer Elaine Ng, 41, will be mailing her Singapore-based husband several items to ring in the festive season.

The couple has not seen each other for a year since both countries went into their respective lockdowns.

“My husband is a senior engineer (Engineering Project Manager). In the past year, we have been in contact via phone and video call. I will mail him the things he needs. When I see something that my family may like, I will mail it to them,” said Ng who lives in Klang.

She lamented that the couple were unable to have their reunion dinner together this year.

“I made New Year cakes and mailed them to him. My daughter bought clothes for my father. In fact, the distance will test the strength of our relationship and grow the trust between us as partners. Although I am busy taking care of the family and working, my husband and I communicate with each other every night over the phone.”

“My husband will often use Zoom to guide my daughter with her homework, and buy her books online and ship it to us.”

Before the pandemic, Elaine said her husband would drive home to Klang every weekend.

However, the family is missing him now as that is no longer possible.

As for Zoe Dang, 28, who lives in Johor Bahru with her husband, gathering with family for a reunion dinner will not be possible this year.

Dang’s family lives in Perak while her uncle and his family are based in Singapore.

They usually return to Perak for the Chinese New Year, but will have to give that a miss this year due to the movement curbs.

“I can’t go back to have a reunion dinner this year. I miss my family. I prepared some New Year cakes and gifts and mailed them to my uncle in Singapore, my parents and in-laws in my hometown, and my grandmother in Penang.”

“Seeing that the pandemic is serious, it’s not possible to go home often. I bought New Year decorations from overseas not long ago, and ordered gift baskets online and mailed them home.”

Jack Koh, who is a manager, said his younger brother JJ, an architect, is based in Singapore hasn’t returned to Malaysia since March 2020.

“Before the pandemic, my younger brother would often come back to Malaysia. This is the first year he will be away for the New Year.”

Koh said he has mailed cakes and gifts to JJ so that he would be comforted and happy to receive goodies from the family during the festive season. – February 12, 2021.